A Time of Wonder {Book Activities}

Time of Wonder, winner of the 1958 Caldecott Medal, tells the story of a summer spent on the coast of Maine. Along with being a favorite read aloud, this is another gentle introduction to geography. Those who have never lived by the sea will be introduced to bays, islands, hills, coves, shores, forests, tides, and the beach.

There are also elements of science — clouds, rain, fog, hurricanes, and the various forms of animal life in the bay.

This beautiful picture book is one you will want to read over and over. The suggested activities below can be accomplished over a long space of time.

Suggestions

(We are suggesting a variety of activities that can be enjoyed from the smallest to your much older student. As always, pick and choose what suits your family!)

Make a notebooking page for the various forms of animal life mentioned:

crabs

cormorants

gulls

bees

hummingbirds

seals

owls

herons

eider ducks

fish hawks

robins

swallows

herrings

loons

mice

spiders

crows

sea urchins

The phrasing below is a modification the old folk song “Green Grass Grew All Around.” Learn the song (see Activities below) and substitute Robert McCloskey’s words.

With the blue water sparkling all around, all around,
With the blue water sparkling all around!

List the various types of boats mentioned. Or if you are into boats, create a notebooking page for each type with an illustration at the top and a description below. (Notebooking helps below.)

Who does “One pair of eyes watching over all” refer to?

List the preparations made for the coming weather.

She’s gonna blow!

Learn what a buoy is and why it is particularly important during a storm.

“People and papers and Parcheesi are puffed hair, over, eyes across the floor” is an example of alliteration — a literary device where the beginning sounds of words are repeated. Imagine what else is being blown about and create your own alliterative sentence describing it.

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